Want to make a website or online portal, but you don’t know coding?
It’s tough! You need a place to show your data source, like from an Airtable sheet, but it seems hard.
Good news! Softr lets you build websites and portals with no code.
This guide shows how to use Softr.
With Airtable, pick a template, and get your site online, easy as pie.
Ready to transform your data into a powerful web application? Softr connects seamlessly with your favorite data sources like Airtable, Google Sheets, and more.
Setting Up Your Softr Account
Getting to the Softr Website
“Okay, so step one is super easy. You need to get to the Softr website.
Just like you go to YouTube to watch videos or to your favorite game’s website to play, you have to go to Softr to start building your app.
Open up your internet browser.
That’s the program you use to look at websites.
You might use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or something else.
Once your browser is open, look at the top.
You’ll see a long bar where you type in website addresses.
It’s called the address bar.
Type ‘Softr.io’ into that bar. Make sure you spell it right! Then, hit the ‘Enter’ key on your keyboard. Boom! You’re on the Softr website.
Signing Up for a Free Account
Now, it’s time to make your own account.
Think of it like making a profile for a game. You need an account to save your work and use all the cool tools. Look for a button that says ‘Sign Up.
‘ It’s usually big and easy to find. Click on it.
Softr gives you a couple of ways to sign up.
You can use your email address.
That’s the most common way. You’ll need to type in your email and pick a password.
If you use Gmail, there’s an even easier way.
You can click ‘Sign Up with Google.
‘ If you’re already logged into your Google account, Softr will just use that to sign you up. It’s super fast!
Once you’ve picked how to sign up, Softr might ask you a few questions.
Choosing a Plan
“After you sign up, Softr will show you their plans.
They have a free plan and some paid plans.
The free plan is great for beginners. It lets you try out all the basic tools and see if you like Softr.
The paid plans have more features.
They’re good if you want to build a really big website or app with lots of fancy stuff.
But for now, stick with the free plan. You can always upgrade later if you need more.
Just click the button for the free plan.
Softr might ask you to confirm your choice. Just say ‘yes’ or click ‘confirm.’ Then, you’re good to go!
Picking a Template
“Okay, now for the fun part: picking a template!
Think of templates like pre-made houses.
You don’t have to build the whole thing from scratch. You just pick one you like and change the inside to make it your own.
Why Use a Template?
“Why use a template, you ask?
Well, it saves you a ton of time.
Imagine trying to build a website with nothing.
It would be like trying to build a Lego castle without any instructions. Templates give you a starting point.
They have all the basic stuff already set up: pages, layouts, and even some pictures.
Plus, the templates look good.
They’re designed by people who know how to make websites look nice.
So, you know your website will look professional, even if you’re a beginner.”
Finding the Template Library
“To find templates, you need to go to your Softr dashboard.
Remember that control center we talked about?
Look for a button that says ‘Add New Application’ or something similar. Click it!
Now, you’ll see the template library.
It’s like a store with lots of different website designs.
You’ll see templates for all sorts of things: blogs, online stores, portfolios, and more.
It’s like picking a character in a video game.
You want to pick one that fits what you want to do.”
Exploring Different Template Types
“Softr has lots of different types of templates.
If you want to write a blog, there’s a template for that. If you want to sell stuff online, there’s a template for that too.
Take some time to look at the different templates.
Read the descriptions. See what each template is good for. You might even see some pictures of what the templates look like.
Don’t just pick the first one you see.
Look around and find one that you really like.
Think about what kind of website you want to make and pick a template that matches.
Customizing Your Content
“Alright, you’ve picked your template. Now, it’s time to make it your own!
Think of this like decorating a room.
You’re going to change the colors, add your stuff, and make it look just how you want.
Changing Text and Pictures
“First, you’ll want to change the words and pictures on your template.
It’s super easy! Just click on any text you see.
A little box will pop up, and you can type in your own words. It’s like writing in a text box on a computer.
For pictures, click on the picture you want to change.
You’ll see an option to upload your own picture.
You can use pictures from your computer or even from the Internet.
Make sure your pictures are good quality so your website looks nice!
You can change the size and position of the pictures too. Just click and drag them around until they look right. It’s like moving stickers on a page.”
Adding New Sections and Pages
Want to add more pages to your website?
No problem! Softr lets you add new pages and sections. Think of sections as parts of a page, like a header, a body, and a footer.
Look for a button that says ‘Add Section’ or ‘Add Page.
‘ Click it! You’ll see a bunch of different options. You can add a text section, an image section, a button section, and more.
Adding new pages is just as easy.
You can make pages for different things, like an ‘About Us’ page or a ‘Contact Us’ page.
Just give your page a name and start adding content.”
Using Blocks to Build Your Page
“Softr uses ‘blocks’ to help you build your pages.
Think of blocks as Lego bricks. You can stack them and arrange them to make your page look how you want.
You’ll see blocks for text, images, buttons, forms, and more.
Just click on a block to add it to your page.
You can drag and drop blocks to move them around.
Blocks make it easy to add different things to your page.
You don’t have to worry about coding or design. Just pick the blocks you want and arrange them how you like.”
Connecting to Your Data with Airtable
If you want to show lists of things, like products or blog posts, you can connect your website to Airtable.
Airtable is like a super-powered spreadsheet. It’s great for storing data.
First, you need to make an Airtable account.
Then, you can connect it to your Softr project. Softr will show the data from your Airtable on your website.
This is really cool because when you change the data in Airtable, it changes on your website too.
It’s like magic! You don’t have to update your website every time you change your data.
Connecting to Airtable
“Okay, so you want to show lists of stuff on your website, right?
Like a list of your favorite books, or maybe a list of products you’re selling.
That’s where Airtable comes in.
It’s like a super-smart spreadsheet that works really well with Softr.
What is Airtable?
“Imagine a spreadsheet, like the ones you use in school, but way cooler.
Airtable lets you store all kinds of information.
You can put in text, numbers, pictures, and even links. It’s like a database, but it’s easy to use.
Why do we use it with Softr?
Well, Softr can take the information from your Airtable and show it on your website.
So, if you change something in Airtable, it changes on your website, too. Super handy!”
How to Connect Airtable to Softr
“First things first, you need an Airtable account.
If you don’t have one, go to the Airtable website and sign up. It’s free to start.
Once you have your Airtable account, you need to make a ‘base.
‘ Think of a base as a table where you put all your information.
You can make a base for your books, your products, or anything else you want to show on your website.
Now, go back to your Softr project.
Look for a button or option that says ‘Connect to Airtable’ or something similar.
Click it! Softr will ask you for your Airtable API key. Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds.
Publishing and Sharing
You’ve built your website! Awesome!
Now, it’s time to show it to the world.
That’s what publishing and sharing are all about. It’s like showing your art project to your class.
Previewing Your Website Before Going Live
“Before you show your website to everyone, you want to make sure it looks good, right?
That’s what previewing is for. It’s like checking your homework before you turn it in.
In Softr, look for a ‘Preview’ button. Click it!
Now, you can see what your website looks like on a computer and on a phone.
Try clicking on all the buttons and links.
Make sure they work. Look at the pictures and text. Make sure everything is spelled right and looks nice.
If you see anything you don’t like, go back and fix it.
You can change things until you’re happy with how it looks.”
How to Publish Your Website
“When you’re happy with your website, it’s time to publish it.
That means making it live on the internet.
Look for a ‘Publish’ button in Softr. Click it!
Softr will ask you a few questions.
You’ll need to give your website a name. This is like the title of your website.
Softr will also ask you if you want to use a free Softr domain or connect your own domain. A domain is like your website’s address.
If you have your own domain, like ‘mycoolwebsite.com,’ you can use that.
If not, you can use a free Softr domain, like ‘mycoolwebsite.softr.app.
Just follow the instructions, and Softr will publish your website. It might take a few minutes. Don’t worry, just be patient.”
Sharing Your Website with Others
Now that your website is live, it’s time to share it with your friends and family!
You can share the link to your website. It’s like giving someone the address to your house.
You can share the link on social media, like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
You can also send it via email or text message.
The more people you share your website with, the more people will see it.
It’s like inviting people to your party.
Conclusion
So, that’s it! You’ve learned how to get started with Softr.
You know how to sign up, pick a use template, and connect your Airtable base.
You’ve also learned how to configure your website and make it look just how you’re looking for.
Remember, Softr is great because it’s a no-code platform.
You can build a web app without writing a single line of code.
No coding knowledge is needed!
It lets you create various things, such as a client portal, an internal tool, or a landing page.
It’s a powerful tool that you can use to build your first app.
Softr offers many options to choose from.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really build a web app with Softr without any coding knowledge?
Yes! Softr’s no-code platform lets you create powerful web apps using a drag-and-drop interface. You can use templates and connect to Airtable to show data, even if you’ve never written a single line of code.
What data sources can I connect to my Softr app?
Softr integrates seamlessly with Airtable, which acts as a powerful data source. This allows you to display dynamic information on your website, like product lists or user data, and update it easily.
How do I control who sees what on my Softr site?
Softr provides visibility settings that allow you to manage which users can see specific content. You can set permissions for logged-in users and non-logged-in users, ensuring data privacy and access control.
Can I use my own domain with a Softr web app?
Yes! Softr supports custom domains, so you can use your own website address. This allows you to maintain your branding and create a professional-client portal or internal tool.
Is there a way to personalize the look and feel of my Softr app?
Absolutely. Softr offers a variety of customization options. You can change colors, fonts, and layouts and add your own background image to match your brand. You can also add a field you want and control the overall look and feel.
